The Almshouse (Richmond, Virginia) facts for kids
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The Almshouse
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The Almshouse, March 2011
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 210 Hospital St., Richmond, Virginia |
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| Area | 7.5 acres (3.0 ha) |
| Built | 1860-1861, 1908 |
| Architect | Gill, Washington Jr. |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000647, 89001913 (Boundary Increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 29, 1981, June 13, 1990 (Boundary Increase) |
The Almshouse, also known as the City Home, is a very old building in Richmond, Virginia. It used to be a place where people who needed help could live, and it also had a hospital. It has a long history of helping the community.
Contents
A Look Back: The Almshouse Story
What is the Almshouse?
The Almshouse building in Richmond is made of brick and was built between 1860 and 1861. It has a special design called Italianate architecture. This means it has three main parts that are the same on both sides, connected by smaller sections. Each main part is three stories tall.
Later, in 1908, another building called the West Building was added. It looks a lot like the main Almshouse, but its main parts are two stories tall instead of three. There's also a smaller Administration Building from around 1950 and a garage.
The Colored Almshouse
The West Building, built in 1908, was known as the "Colored Almshouse" or "Colored Home." It replaced an older building that opened in 1868. This new building also had a hospital that cared for African-American residents in Richmond.
The Almshouse, which was later called the Richmond Nursing Home, continued to help people in need until the late 1970s. Today, it is used again as a home for people with lower incomes.
A Hospital During the Civil War
From 1861 to 1864, the Almshouse was used as a hospital during the American Civil War. It was officially called "General Hospital No. 1" and was also known as the "Alms House Hospital." Dr. Charles Bell Gibson, a top surgeon, was in charge.
Many soldiers who were hurt in big battles like First and Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville were treated here. For a lot of that time, both Confederate and Union soldiers received care in the building.
In 1864, it briefly became a hospital just for officers. Then, in December 1864, the building became the temporary home for the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). Their own campus had been burned by Union troops. VMI students stayed there until Union forces took over Richmond in April 1865.
The First Almshouse Buildings
Before the 1861 Almshouse was built, there was an older building called the "Poor-house" or "Poor and Work House" in the same spot. It was finished in 1806 and was once the third largest building in Richmond! While the new 1861 Almshouse was being built and during the Civil War, a temporary Almshouse was set up nearby.
The 1861 Almshouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981, which means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Images for kids
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The Almshouse in March 2011
